Printing apparatus with pushers on stepped discharge plate

Abstract

A printing apparatus for printing a paper sheet on a platen by a thermal head with a three color image includes a feeding device and a paper ejecting device. The paper feeding device includes feeding rollers, a feeding tray, and a feeding lever. After printing, the printed paper sheet is ejected forwardly in the printing apparatus by the ejecting device to a stepped discharge plate so as to facilitating removal of the printed paper sheet therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium comprising: printing means for printing the image on the printing medium;   discharge means for discharging the printing medium from said printing means;   first receiving means defining a first ejecting position provided in the printing apparatus for receiving, aligning and temporarily retaining the printing medium discharged thereto by said discharge means, said first receiving means including a first step on which said discharged printing medium is initially received and temporarily retained;   second receiving means defining a second ejecting position laterally displaced from said first position and including a tray defining a second step which is positioned lower than said first step for receiving and storing the printing medium having an image printed thereon; and   ejecting means for moving the printed sheet of printing medium from the first ejecting position of said first receiving means toward said tray at the second ejecting position.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 1, in which said ejecting means comprises a paper pusher provided at said first step of said first receiving means and which is adapted to swing so as to push the discharged printing medium from the first ejecting position of said first receiving means toward said tray at the second ejecting position. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 2, and further including cam means linked to said paper pusher, said cam means being rotated one cycle during a printing operation for controlling the displacement of said paper pusher so as to eject the printing medium from said first ejecting position toward said second ejecting position at a predetermined time during a printing operation. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means includes means for guiding the discharged printing medium from said printing means to said first receiving means. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 1, in which said first step is provided rearwardly in the printing apparatus and said tray is positioned forwardly of said first step so as to project from the printing apparatus. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 1 and further including supply means for providing a stack of sheets of printing medium; feeding means which comprises a rotatable roller for transmitting one of the sheets of the printing medium from said supply means to said printing means, said rotatable roller having a peripheral surface; and engaging means for holding said one sheet of printing medium in contact with the peripheral surface of said rotatable roller, said engaging means releasing said one sheet from engagement with said rotatable roller before said one sheet fully passes from said rotatable roller toward said printing means and thereby preventing the imparting of a shock to said sheet while an image is being printed. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium having front and rear edges comprising: first means for printing the image on the sheet of printing medium;   second means for feeding a sheet of printing medium to said first means, said second means comprising:   a supply tray for storing a stack of sheets of printing medium,   a rotatable roller for transmitting the sheet of printing medium toward said first means, said roller having a peripheral surface, and   engaging means operable to shift the sheet of printing medium stored within said tray to an engaging position where the sheet of printing medium contacts the peripheral surface of said rotatable roller, said engaging means moving the sheet of printing medium from said engaging position toward a disengaging position where the sheet of printing medium is separated from said rotatable roller before the rear edge of the sheet of printing medium fed by said roller passes the position of said roller adjacent to said first means and thereby preventing the imparting of a shock to said sheet while an image is being printed;   discharge means for discharging the sheet of printing medium from said first means;   first receiving means defining a first ejecting position provided in the printing apparatus for receiving, aligning and temporarily retaining the sheet of printing medium discharged thereto by said discharge means, said first means including a first ejecting step on which said discharged sheet is received and temporarily retained;   second receiving means defining a second ejecting position laterally displaced from said first ejecting position and including a receiving tray defining a second ejecting step which is positioned lower than said first step for receiving and storing printing medium having images printed thereon; and   third means for ejecting the printed sheet of printing medium from said first ejecting position of said first receiving means toward said receiving tray at the second ejecting position.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 7, in which said third means comprises a paper pusher provided at said first ejecting step of said first receiving means and which is adapted to swing so as to push the printed sheet of printing medium from said first ejecting position toward said receiving tray at the second ejecting position. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 7, wherein said discharge means includes means for guiding the printed sheet of printing medium from said first means to said first receiving means. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for use in printing an image on a sheet of printing medium according to claim 7, in which said first step is provided rearwardly in the printing apparatus and said receiving tray is positioned forwardly of said first step so as to be partly exposed from the printing apparatus. 
     
     
       11. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing mechanism including a printing head and a platen;   a supplying means for transmitting a paper sheet from a stored position to said printing mechanism;   a discharging means for transmitting said paper sheet from said printing mechanism to a tray for receiving the discharged sheet;   said tray including a first step and a second step, said first step being positioned rearwardly in said tray and receiving said paper sheet discharged by said discharging means, said second step being positioned forwardly in said tray; and   an arm member pushing said paper sheet from said first step to said second step.   
     
     
       12. Printing apparatus of claim 11, in which said first step is positioned higher than said second step. 
     
     
       13. Printing apparatus of claim 11, in which said discharging means includes a roller. 
     
     
       14. Printing apparatus of claim 11, in which a guide portion leads said paper sheet discharged by said discharging means to a position to be moved by said arm member. 
     
     
       15. Printing apparatus of claim 11, in which said arm member is composed of plural bars which push said paper sheet vertically after being discharged by said discharging means.